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Graduate Intern (Management and Program Analysis)

U.S. Government Accountability Office
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Summary

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. We accomplish our mission by providing objective and reliable information and analysis to the Congress, to federal agencies, and to the public, and recommending improvements, when appropriate, on a wide variety of issues to make government work better.

This vacancy is for Summer internship positions. The anticipated start dates begin in May 2025.

Applications close on 2/18/2025 or when the first 200 applications are submitted. 

Duties

As a GAO Graduate Intern (Management and Program Analysis), you will work within one of GAO's Chief Administrative Offices or Staff Office to increase your knowledge, skills, and abilities. The work assignments may involve any of the following tasks:

  • Works on assigned, structured segments of projects
  • Uses analytical techniques collect, research, and develop data-based findings and conclusions related to projects.
  • Participates in providing recommendations for alternative solutions for problems targeted by projects.
  • Uses office automation software to produce and prepare various materials such as spreadsheets, plans, procedures, memoranda, letters, charts, databases, and presentations
  • Edits or drafts documents to ensure accuracy and clarity and correct formatting, grammar, and spelling for inter-office written products.
  • Contributes to team efforts through participation in activities/meetings, soliciting and listening to others' opinions, and working collaboratively to accomplish team goals.

For detailed information regarding the Operational and Staff offices at GAO, please click here.

Note: At the time of application, you will be provided with additional descriptors of the specific offices that are seeking student trainees for the 2025 Summer semester. Please review each descriptions before making your desired selection. Office preferences are not guaranteed.

RequirementsConditions of Employment

 

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Selective Service registration if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959. Visit http://www.sss.gov
  • You will be subject to a background investigation/ suitability determination.
  • Student must work a minimum of 400 hours, not to exceed a total of 640 hours.
  • You must be currently enrolled and good standing in an accredited degree program throughout the duration of the internship.
  • If at any point during the internship (and for any reason) your status as a student changes to that of a non-student, your internship will be terminated.

 

Qualifications

 

All qualification requirements must be met by the start of the internship.

To qualify for the GS-7 level, you must be enrolled in a graduate or equivalent degree seeking program, and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. You must have completed between 18 to 35 semester hours or 27 to 53 quarter hours of graduate level education; or
  2. You must possess a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (defined below).

Superior Academic Achievement: Superior academic achievement (SAA) recognizes individuals who have achieved superior academic standing. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a.3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or .3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

To qualify for the GS-9 level, you must be enrolled in a graduate or equivalent degree seeking program, and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. You must have completed 36 or more semester hours or 54 or more quarter hours of graduate level education; or
  2. You must possess a master's degree or equivalent Graduate degree.

NOTE: You must be a current student enrolled in an graduate program seeking a degree from an accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis. If at any point during the internship (and for any reason) your status as a student changes to that of a non-student, your internship will be terminated.

Education

 

All applicants must submit their academic transcripts in order to be eligible. The transcripts may be unofficial or official and must show your status as a student, as well as support your educational claim.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog

Additional information

 

This position is not in the bargaining unit.

This position does not have promotion potential.

Appointments for student intern positions are nonpermanent and generally last from 10 to 16 weeks.
Student interns may have an opportunity for a permanent or term position based on a successful intern experience (completion of a minimum of 400 hours of work, not to exceed a total of 640 hours) and successful completion of degree requirements. The ability to convert to a permanent or term appointment with a minimum 400 hours of work experience is contingent upon budgetary conditions and staffing needs at the time of eligibility. The pay for these intern positions is:

  • GS-7, step 1: $27.39 per hour
  • GS-9, step 1: $33.50 per hour

Applicants who are selected for this position will be required to provide an official transcript on the day of your orientation or within 3 business days after orientation. This transcript must show that you meet the education requirements for the GS-7 and/or GS-9 grade level, and that you are currently enrolled through at least August 2025. Failure to meet the requirements or provide the transcript will result in termination of your internship.

OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement. The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity. You may be required to file a financial disclosure report. Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO. Selectees will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. If selected, at the time of appointment, selectees will be required to update the OF-306.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees (and interns) with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov. Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

After you submit your application, it will be reviewed to determine whether you have submitted all of the required documents as set forth below by the closing date of the announcement and meet the eligibility and qualification requirements. If you have submitted all of the required documents and meet the eligibility and qualification requirements, your application will be reviewed by a screening panel. The panel will assign a score to your applications based on the answers you provide to the essay questions contained in the vacancy assessment and your resume. If your application receives a sufficient rating by the panel, you will be placed in one of the three appropriate categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. For more information regarding veterans' preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets/gov/index.aspx.

When completing the assessment questions, it is important to have well written, thoughtful responses that are supported by your resume. You may draw upon academic, volunteer, and/or work experience as a basis for your response. The narrative responses cannot exceed 1,000 characters including spaces. The narrative responses are required as part of the application process. Any narrative responses that says "please see resume," "N/A" or the equivalent will not be accepted. It is important that the responses are accurate and does not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability.

To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12637982

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Your resume must show the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment.

All applicants MUST submit college or university graduate and/or undergraduate transcripts (official or unofficial) that show degree conferral and/or support semester/quarter hours completed as well as proof of current enrollment.

  • If you are completing your first graduate degree and have been accepted into a graduate program to pursue a 2nd graduate degree and do not yet have a transcript, you must submit proof of acceptance/enrollment into your new graduate program, along with the transcripts from your current graduate program.

Current proof of enrollment (i.e., transcript showing coursework through Winter/Spring 2025, copy of registered courses for Spring/Summer 2025 OR a letter from school registrar's office confirming enrollment status for the duration of the internship). Note, a letter of acceptance does not qualify as proof of enrollment. Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)

Note, if documents are not submitted timely, the agency will not accept documents after the vacancy closes.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.-

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Joycelyn Williams at williamsjr1@gao.gov or 202-407-9998 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.

For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.

Next steps

After the closing date of this announcement, GAO's Human Capital Office and a rating panel will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications by reviewing your assessment questionnaire and resume. If your application is rated "Best-Qualified," your name will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Applicants who are determined to be "Best-Qualified" will contacted for an interview. Oral communication skills are essential for this position, although levels of communication skills are not questioned in the vacancy assessment of this announcement. If you are contacted for an interview, your oral communication skills will be observed during the interview. Oral communication may include methods used by applicants with disabilities such as sign language interpretation, text-to-speech or TTY technology and amplification devices. If a reasonable accommodation will be required to participate in the interview process, please ensure the method is indicated upon responding to the interview invitation.

Travel and relocation expenses associated with the interviewing and/or hiring process will not be paid. GAO will contact applicants to determine the most appropriate method for conducting the interview, including options for face-to-face, in a field location, or by phone.

If you do not meet the key requirements, and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

Applicants who are not "Best Qualified" will be notified via email. You can check the status of your application at any time, by accessing the application section of your personal USAJobs account.